The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-10-14
DOCTGRED TO DEATH.


Americans may cause the reader 20 pat
riotically grit his teeth at the following
from the Rochester N. " Herald:
y Washipg'ag.on dispatch the other
day related how Jhirty members OF the
late medical congress met in social
way after one Of the sessions. They
were elderly meu, but progressive, and
IN sympathy with the modern practice
even Oc tEeir school of generally discard
ing the lance for promiscuous blood
Letting and u giving small in prefer
ence TO the heroic doses formerly in
yorue. One u these old physicians is
reported 10 Lave aston shed" his hear
ers with the assertion. that General
GEORGE Washington did not die q natur-
qi death, out WAS killed by his doctors.
Tho statement, il is said, was greeted
with the exclamation That's a Ii
bel. " We Judge that if these physi-
clans were astouished and indignant
over the declaration quoted they were
not very well read in the history of
Wasumgtuu's last hours on earth. The
st0Jy Is an Nd one, whether libel or
not
But The statements made and quota
tiJus gwen in support of them by the
physician who "astonishedn his hearers
axe OF much interest. The certificates
of Drs. Clark and Dick, who treated
Washington in his last illness, show
that having been exposed 10 rain and
fatigue on Friday, December Is, 1893,
he was attacked that night with pain in
ths upper and fore part OF the throat.
coughing, difficulty in swallowing, sue
cseIcd by fever and quick and laborious
respiration. lie took it for severe
cold, and called in one OF his servants,
\ ''blsedsr, - who took from his arm
-eeCly pint of blood. The account
then continues as gollows The pa
t,snt was about in that condition until
the a--.Val of his physicians at 10 O'Clock
next mO-uing-Saturday- the
doctors proceeded to repeat the bleeder's
Operal on, and twice within about four
hours took over two pints, or quart of
blood In the Intermin of these two
copiou5 0leedings = blister was applied
% 'he part effected, two moderate doses
or ca'gmgl were given, succeeded by re-
pg.tlG doses of taIter emetic, amount
ing 20 five or six grains, with no other
effect than a copious discharge from the
bowels
leIrs yvaa cF tho barOip
kind" interjected the alleged libeler,
(which was enough TO kill an ordinary
well man " and it was evidently doing
TIE business for the General, for the
learned doctors add The powers OF
life seemed now manifestly yielding to
tho force of the disorder. BlisteTs
were applied to the extremities, togeth-
er with catapIasm Of bran and vine
gar 20 the throat. Speaking, which
was plainful 20 him from the begin
ming, now became almost impractical
BILE Respiration grew mOIe and more
contracted and imperfect until 1:3J
O'Clock on Sunday morning. when, Tt
tanning the possession of his intellect,
lie expired withouta n struggle"
No wonder" Temarkedthe alleged
libeier. "IIow could he Struggle after
losing about all the blood in mis- body,
with huge blisters aiding in the depIe-
fi0n of his vital strength, anu his stom-
ali crammed with caiomel and tartar
erle.ic so that there was no room for
food or fluids, which he should have had
~ keep up the system Poor man. how
he must have suffered and he couldn't
make them stop their torture, although
La seems TO have tried to do 50. But
the medical men certify that after re-
peated efforts 20 be understood he sue
ceedeI in expressing a desire that he
might be permitted TO die without inter-
rupt;Jn. There, ny brother doctors,
are you convinced ? Wasn't that
clear case OF malpractice
Washington was IS years Of age when
lac died. lie was not an old man by
any means, especially for one Of his
physique and prudence. It is probable
that with enlightened medical treat
meut he would have lived at least from
I've TO ten years longer, if his life had
not been shortened by what the Physi-
C,0uquOted above Justly characterized rs
- malpractice.